February 3: West Virginia’s True Emancipation Day

February 3, 1865, is one of the most significant yet overlooked dates in West Virginia’s history. On this day, nearly two years after West Virginia became a state, the legislature finally abolished slavery, ensuring the full emancipation of enslaved individuals within its borders.

West Virginia often presents itself as a state that broke from Virginia over the issue of slavery, but this is a myth—a watered-down version of history that overlooks the economic and political complexities that shaped the region. In reality, West Virginia was far from a bastion of abolition. Slavery persisted in the new state even after it separated from Virginia, and it wasn’t until February 3, 1865, that the institution was fully abolished by state law.

This year, in 2025, Delegate Hollis Lewis plans to introduce a proclamation recognizing February 3 as West Virginia’s true Emancipation Day. This follows the work of Delegate Sean Hornbuckle, who in 2024 championed the first official proclamation of the date as “Freedom Day.” Black By God has been at the forefront of this initiative, calling for Governor Jim Justice to acknowledge West Virginia’s authentic history rather than the mythology often promoted.

READ West Virginia Delegates Proclaim February 3 as Freedom Day, Honoring the State’s True Emancipation History – 2024.

Understanding February 3 as West Virginia’s true Emancipation Day reminds us of the importance of telling the full story of our history—not just a version that is comfortable or convenient. Recognizing this date is not just Black history; it is West Virginia history, and it is American history.

Learn more about this historic moment here: West Virginia Archives.